BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will establish a new Institute for Human Rights, one that officials say can build on the Magic City's increasing reputation as a center for the study of civil rights and social justice.

The proposal to create the Institute was approved by The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees on Friday, according to a UAB news release today.

"This will become an internationally recognized institute that promotes and seeks to protect human rights from the local to the international level," UAB Provost Linda Lucas said. "The Institute will explore several areas of human and civil rights, including history, justice, public health, the environment and education."

The Institute, described as a university-wide interdisciplinary research center, will "create and foster new research, policy solutions, outreach activities and educational programming relating to all aspects of human rights," according to the release.

One objective of the Institute is to create training programs for business and government in such areas as diversity awareness, sexual harassment prevention and workplace communication.

The College of Arts and Sciences will take the lead in facilitating the center, and the permanent location will allow collaboration by students, teachers, scholars and activists, the release states.

Another partner will be the City of Birmingham, which in 2013 held a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the key civil rights year of 1963.

"On the heels of 50 Years Forward, the creation of an Institute for Human Rights at UAB is a timely and important step in further establishing Birmingham on the world stage as a city where difficult issues are openly discussed, and we all are inspired to lead the ongoing struggles against injustice," Birmingham Mayor William Bell said.

The study of human rights is important because – more than 60 years after the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – more than one-third of the world's population lives under authoritarian rule, according to Palazzo.

"This is important work that needs special attention and specific focus," Palazzo said, adding that Birmingham – in part due to the presence of the BCRI – is already an "international destination for those seeking to learn more about human rights."

Organizers hope the institute will attract world-class scholars, researchers and students passionate about human and civil rights, enhance "experiential learning opportunities" for students and provide a place where scholars and human-rights practitioners can collaborate to find solutions to problems.